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Miss Nightingale

Miss Nightingale

Gay Sex, scandal and show business IN 1940s London

A dazzling new musical celebrating gay love, scandals and show business in the 1940s has its premiere at the Lowry Theatre, Salford in January 2011 before transferring to London’s King’s Head Theatre.  Miss Nightingale the musical combines emotionally charged songs with powerful drama and Burlesque-style performance.

Miss Nightingale the musical explores the challenging relationship between two men, against the backdrop of WWII.  This touching love story shows the injustice and prejudice that gay men faced in this period – a subject still, all too, relevant in this country and abroad today.

London 1942.  Two men struggle in the shadows of a war-torn city to thrust a new star into the spotlight.  Maggie Brown dreams of becoming a famous singer as she nurses wounded soldiers in an East End hospital.  With her songwriter George, a Jewish refugee, she auditions at every night club and cabaret bar in London.  But nobody wants their act.  Their luck and liveschange when they meet the handsome, charming and wealthy Sir Frank Conner.  A plan is hatched and the mysterious Miss Nightingale explodes onto the stage.  Feathers are ruffled and polite society is shocked by her scandalous exploits, outfits and songs.  She takes the West End by storm. But out of the spotlight, sexual tensions threaten to reveal secrets far more dangerously explosive than the bombs falling in the Blitz.  

Miss Nightingale the musical brings the vintage-style glamour, sounds and sex scandals of the 1940s thrillingly to life.  This daring new musical, with bookand lyrics and music by Matthew Bugg, features 15 original songs and stars Ilan Goodman, Emmerdale’s Richard Shelton, and neo-Burlesque sensation Amber Topaz.

Amber Topaz grew up in Rotherham, where she trained in dance from a young age.  She moved to London after winning a place at drama school.  She started her career in West End musicals (inc. Les Miserables), before razzle-dazzling her way to international Burlesque stardom and enchanting audiences with her showgirl splendour.  In 2008 she had the unique honour of being chosen to represent Britain in Las Vegas’ legendary Miss Exotic World Burlesque Hall of Fame.

Ilan Goodman recently appeared in Michael Grandage’s production of Danton’s Death, National Theatre.  He has also played: Doug Six Degrees of Separation, Old Vic; Basil in Dorian Gray, Leicester Sq theatre; Dominic in Austentatious, the Landor.

Richard Shelton created the role of Frank Sinatra in the award-winning musical Rat Pack Confidential in the West End.  He appeared on screen as the charming yet murderous Dr Adam Forsythe in Emmerdale, alongside screen-wife Lorraine Chase.  He also played Harry Bright on the international tour of Mamma Mia!

Matthew Bugg grew up in and still lives in Sheffield with his (now Civil) Partner of 17 years and a feisty sausage dog.  He began his theatre training at the age of four after watching The Royal Ballet’s production of ‘The Tales of Beatrix Potter’ on TV.  His parents were initially resistant, dismissing ballet as being ‘for girls’, but he persisted, enlisting the support of neighbours and friends in his attempts to change his parents’ minds. Eventually he got his own way and a pattern of behaviour was born.  He started the violin at the age of eight, and spent every night of his early years either dancing or playing music.  But at 14, he suffered a serious shoulder injury in a dance class.  He was told not to play violin for six months and to give up dance completely.  It was during this difficult period that Matthew began to compose in earnest on his BBC Micro Computer.  He became fascinated with the emerging music technology that was to become such a big part of his later career.  Being someone who never takes “no” for an answer, Matthew defied the doctors and returned to dance at the age of 17. He loved it, and was awarded a scholarship to study with the British Ballet Organisation, but unfortunately the shoulder problems returned and he was faced with a difficult choice.  Fate (and hard work) helped him make up his mind.  He achieved the highest mark in the country for A level Music and decided to study composition at Birmingham University.  He got his first professional theatre job as Musical Director at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, before he had even graduated, and was quickly made an Associate Artist of the new Mercury Theatre Company.  He went on to work at many of the major theatres across the country as composer and choreographer.  Never one to rest on his laurels, Matthew is always looking for new challenges. A perfect opportunity came his way when he was working as a composer on a play written by the actor Clive Francis.  Clive was also preparing to play the role of Prospero in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and after seeing Matthew doing his early morning yoga stretches asked him to audition for the part of Ariel.  Matthew had never had any formal acting training but won the part, and audiences and critics loved him.  Although Matthew loved this brief career in acting, there were other ambitions that required his attention. He wanted to write and direct a musical - an intelligent, witty, deeply moving musical that really had something important to say.  And so Miss Nightingale was born.

Miss Nightingale the musical runs at The Lowry, Salford Thu 20 - Sat 22 Jan (Eves 8pm, Sat mat 2pm) and the King’s Head Theatre, London (Wed 26 Jan - Sat 19 Feb, Late Night Show). For more information visit: www.missnightingale.co.uk or www.facebook.com/missnightingalethemusical Press enquiries, interviews and images:

Toby Oliver +44 (0)7816 133 151 / info@mrbuggpresents.com

Tour Schedule:

The Lowry, Salford

Thu 20 - Sat 22 January, Eves 8pm, Sat mat 2pm

Tickets £14 / Concessions £2 off

0843 208 6010 / www.thelowry.com

King’s Head Theatre, London

Wed 26 January - Sat 19 February, Late Night Show

Tickets £15 / Concessions £2 off Wed & Thur

08444 771 000 / www.kingsheadtheatre.com

Book and lyrics and music by: Matthew Bugg           

Direction/choreography: Matthew Bugg 

Published: 4-Dec-2010: (410)

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